Iowa's first women's sports bar opens in Des Moines
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Heroics opened on Christamas Eve. Photos: Jason Clayworth/Axios
Iowa's first bar dedicated to women's sports has opened in Des Moines.
Why it matters: Heroics Sports Lounge is a sign of the growing nationwide appetite for women-centered sports spaces, co-owner Jami Behun tells Axios.
Catch up quick: Heroics opened on Christmas Eve in the space that was previously Juniper Moon and retains some of the cocktail lounge's plush furniture.
- The idea for a women's sports-focused bar took shape after Behun visited The Sports Bra in Portland, Oregon, a few years ago.
Zoom in: The Sports Bra considered opening a franchise location in DSM but decided against it, Behun said.
- That led her and her business partner, LaQuita Lucas, to open Heroics.
The intrigue: Behun is a queer business owner and the bar markets itself as a welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ fans, but she doesn't label it as a lesbian bar.
- That distinction matters as the number of lesbian bars in the U.S. has dwindled to just a few dozen — making inclusive spaces like Heroics stand out, even if they don't fit neatly into that label.
What's next: Heroics is already open during its regular hours, but its official launch party is on Jan. 17, with drink specials.
Go: Open 3-10pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 3-11pm on Fridays; 11am-11pm on Saturdays; and 11am-9pm on Sundays.
- 2005 Ingersoll Ave. Suite 101.
